Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

See, see, at what price we set the verity and truth of God, see how we turn it into a lie, see also how we abuse the ordinance and commandment of God, by the which he hath forbidden us to defame our neighbours. So let us learn that this is a wicked extreme, into which we fall, when we will bear with that which is evil, when we will nourish and maintain vices: and above all, when called to give witness, and required truly to declare, and to open the wickedness, which is to be amended, we will be culpable thereof, and partakers as far as we may. If I keep close murder or theft, if I conceal treason, behold I am accounted accessory unto all these crimes both before God & before man. So then this which we have said, that we ought by charity to cover the sins of our neighbours, this I say hindereth not, but that we may declare the evil we know by them, if it be needful, and that we shall be required thereunto: yea, it shall be good for us so to do. But there is in this thing an other ⟨p. 81⟩vicious extreme, wherein we offend: when we are overmuch given to blab forth those faults, which ought quietly to be amended and corrected by us, without making any great proclamation of them: and this shall proceed oftentimes from evil will, oftentimes from ambition, and oftentimes from a foolish desire of vaunting our selves. From evil will (I say) when oftentimes under a colour of zeal we will seem to have to punish vices, pretending that we can not suffer that God be offended, we come to pry into the life of them whom we hate, and if we find any thing we may grate upon, any thing we may snap them up for, behold, we have an accusation ready: and thus we falsely abuse the name of God, protesting our selves zealous, men, when we seek nothing else but to catch our enemies, tripping and failing in some one point of their duty. And a man may easily espy our malice in this, that having sharply reproved a vice in some one, whom we shall have hated: we will bear with it and hide it, as much as we may possible, in some one of our friends: such an unequal measure we will use. Now by this, is it not evident, that there is no good affection in us, and that we war not with the sins and vices, but with the persons in whom they are? Verily, this case is clear and easily to be judged.

See, see, at what price we set the veritie and truth of God, see how we turne it into a lie, see also how wee abuse the ordinaunce and commaundement of God, by the which he hath forbidden vs to defame our neighbours. So let vs learne that this is a wicked extreme, into which we fall, when wee will beare with that which is euill, when wee will nourish and mainteine vices: and aboue all, when called to giue witnesse, and required trulie to declare, and to open the wickednesse, which is to be amended, we will be culpable thereof, and partakers as farre as we may. If I keepe close murder or theft, if I conceale treason, behold I am accounted accessarie vnto all these crimes both before God & before man. So then this which we haue said, that we ought by charitie to couer the sinnes of our neighbors, this I say hindereth not, but that we may declare the euill we know by them, if it bee needefull, and that wee shalbe required therevnto: yea, it shall bee good for vs so to doe. But there is in this thing an other